Research and consultancy, Tabbush Report

Daniel Tabbush

Research and consultancy

Tabbush Report

We provide research and consultancy on Asian banks. Our focus is on what we call “Asian bank research, without the noise.” We are interested in the most critical swing-factors for banks, the NPL and credit cycle, and where we believe there is a gap between perception and reality. We often focus on the less studied components of bank financial statements.  Our research is highly thematic, sometimes examining unlisted banks and companies as a window on mainstream banks. 

Being independent allows us to look at smaller banks, often overlooked by others. Analysis of BIS bank guidelines in the context of Asia, is also a focal point, while we also analyze global banks operating in the region. We use what we believe is the most comprehensive, reliable financials database, SNL Financial. S&P Capital IQ augments our database, with corporate data and CEIC, with economics. 

Asian bank research, without the noise.

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul>
<li>There appears to be far less geopolitical risk with Singapore's banks than large globals</li>
<li>Impairment costs may be the best risk gauge, but also lending appetite</li>
<li>High oil prices and rising rates can both be highly positive to net profit</li>
</ul>


There appears to be far less geopolitical risk with Singapore's banks than large globals
Impairment costs may be the best risk gauge, but also lending appetite
High oil prices and rising rates can both be highly positive to net profit


Singapore Banks - Limited Geopolitical Risk

SGX Market Strategist, Equity & Fixed Income, Singapore Exchange Ltd (SGX)

Geoff Howie

SGX Market Strategist, Equity & Fixed Income

Asia’s leading multi-asset exchange

Singapore Exchange Ltd (SGX)

Singapore Exchange is Asia’s leading and trusted market infrastructure, facilitating the exchange of capital and ideas to create value for people, businesses and economies. As a multi-asset exchange operating equity, fixed income and derivatives markets to the highest regulatory standards, SGX is a vertically integrated business that provides listing, trading, clearing, settlement, depository and data services.

With about 40% of listed companies and over 80% of listed bonds originating outside of Singapore as well as established linkages across the region and in Europe, SGX is Asia’s most international and connected exchange. Offering a full suite of derivatives products across Asian equity indices, commodities and currencies, SGX is the world’s most liquid international market for the benchmark equity indices of China, India, Japan and ASEAN.

As Asia’s pioneering central counterparty, SGX is globally recognised for its risk management and clearing capabilities, and was one of the first globally to adopt the Principles for Financial Market Infrastructure.

Headquartered in AAA-rated Singapore, SGX has over 800 employees including offices in Beijing, Chicago, Hong Kong, London, New York, Mumbai, San Francisco, Shanghai and Tokyo.

Equity Bottom-Up

Manulife US REIT (MUST) / Equity Bottom-Up

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 <img src='https://api2.sgx.com/sites/default/files/2022-04/Capture_7.PNG' alt='Trio of US office SREIT' />
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 <div class='content-caption'>Trio of US office SREIT</div>
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With up to 75 per cent of employees now able to return to the workplace in Singapore, there has been a noticeable increase in crowds in office areas over the past week. 
This trend is also expected to be similar in the US as companies start to announce plans to bring more employees back to the office. 
According to the Microsoft Annual Work Trend Index Report 2022, 50 per cent of leaders say their company already requires, or plans to require, full-time in-person work in the year ahead. 
Companies such as Apple, JP Morgan, and Twitter are also said to welcome more staff back to office and consider hybrid models.

SGX lists 3 pure-play US office S-Reits - Manulife US Reit, Prime US Reit, and Keppel Pacific Oak US Reit. 
The trio have a combined market capitalisation of S$3.8 billion, average distribution yield of 8.7 per cent and trade at a price-to-book ratio of 0.9 times. 
Manulife US Reit (MUST) has a portfolio of 12 freehold office properties in Arizona, California, Georgia, New Jersey, Oregon, Virginia and Washington DC with a combined asset value of US$2.2 billion as at Dec 31, 2021. 
As at end 2021, MUST recorded a 92.3 per cent occupancy rate against the US Class A average of about 83 per cent, according to JLL's Q4 2021 US Office Outlook. 
Must also noted that 2021 ended on a strong note for the US office segment as transaction volumes increased along with higher leasing activity and strong projections for 12-month rent growth in many markets. 
Over the first few months of 2022, MUST also observed higher numbers, signifying that return-to-office is gathering momentum, alongside H2 2021 portfolio valuations turning positive for the first time since the onset of Covid-19. 
It believes that office space will remain relevant, as firms are signing longer US office leases which averaged 7.1 years in Q1 2021 and lengthened to 7.8 years in Q4 2021 according to JLL. 
Prime US Reit (Prime) has a portfolio of 14 freehold office properties in 13 key US office markets with a total carrying value of US$1.65 billion as at Dec 31, 2021. 
It has a portfolio occupancy rate of 90.3 per cent (at end 2021), which is higher than the average US Class A. 
Prime anticipates an increase in leasing activity as employees cautiously plan for their return to office. 
Its leasing activity in H2 2021 more than doubled that in H1 2021 and rent collections have remained above 99 per cent throughout FY2020 and FY2021. 
Prime attributes its resilience to its industry sector diversification, where no single property contributes more than 11.4 per cent of its cash rental income. 
It continues to have a focus in growth and established STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) and TAMI (technology, advertising, media and information) sectors. 
Keppel Pacific Oak US Reit (KORE) has a portfolio of 15 freehold office buildings and business campuses across 9 key growth markets in the US with a combined asset value of US$1.46 billion. 
KORE has a committed portfolio occupancy of 91.9 per cent. 
Close to 45 per cent of its portfolio by net lettable area comprises tenants from the growing TAMI, medical and healthcare sectors. 
The Reit has observed that the correlation between increasing Covid-19 cases and falling demand for office space has started to diminish. 
KORE quoted the CoStar Office National Report December 2021, where close to 100 million sq ft of office space was leased in Q3 2021, an indicator of stabilisation in the US office market.  REIT Watch is a weekly column on The Business Times,<a href="https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/companies-markets/singapore-office-s-reits-poised-to-benefit-from-positive-rental-momentum-0"> </a><a href="https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/companies-markets/us-office-s-reits-set-for-continued-growth-with-the-return-to-office-0">read </a>the original version.
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    Trio of US office SREIT


With up to 75 per cent of employees now able to return to the workplace in Singapore, there has been a noticeable increase in crowds in office areas over the past week.  
This trend is also expected to be similar in the US as companies start to announce plans to bring more employees back to the office.  
According to the Microsoft Annual Work Trend Index Report 2022, 50 per cent of leaders say their company already requires, or plans to require, full-time in-person work in the year ahead.  
Companies such as Apple, JP Morgan, and Twitter are also said to welcome more staff back to office and consider hybrid models.

SGX lists 3 pure-play US office S-Reits - Manulife US Reit, Prime US Reit, and Keppel Pacific Oak US Reit.  
The trio have a combined market capitalisation of S$3.8 billion, average distribution yield of 8.7 per cent and trade at a price-to-book ratio of 0.9 times.  
Manulife US Reit (MUST) has a portfolio of 12 freehold office properties in Arizona, California, Georgia, New Jersey, Oregon, Virginia and Washington DC with a combined asset value of US$2.2 billion as at Dec 31, 2021.  
As at end 2021, MUST recorded a 92.3 per cent occupancy rate against the US Class A average of about 83 per cent, according to JLL's Q4 2021 US Office Outlook.  
Must also noted that 2021 ended on a strong note for the US office segment as transaction volumes increased along with higher leasing activity and strong projections for 12-month rent growth in many markets.  
Over the first few months of 2022, MUST also observed higher numbers, signifying that return-to-office is gathering momentum, alongside H2 2021 portfolio valuations turning positive for the first time since the onset of Covid-19.  
It believes that office space will remain relevant, as firms are signing longer US office leases which averaged 7.1 years in Q1 2021 and lengthened to 7.8 years in Q4 2021 according to JLL.  
Prime US Reit (Prime) has a portfolio of 14 freehold office properties in 13 key US office markets with a total carrying value of US$1.65 billion as at Dec 31, 2021.  
It has a portfolio occupancy rate of 90.3 per cent (at end 2021), which is higher than the average US Class A.  
Prime anticipates an increase in leasing activity as employees cautiously plan for their return to office.  
Its leasing activity in H2 2021 more than doubled that in H1 2021 and rent collections have remained above 99 per cent throughout FY2020 and FY2021.  
Prime attributes its resilience to its industry sector diversification, where no single property contributes more than 11.4 per cent of its cash rental income.  
It continues to have a focus in growth and established STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) and TAMI (technology, advertising, media and information) sectors.  
Keppel Pacific Oak US Reit (KORE) has a portfolio of 15 freehold office buildings and business campuses across 9 key growth markets in the US with a combined asset value of US$1.46 billion.  
KORE has a committed portfolio occupancy of 91.9 per cent.  
Close to 45 per cent of its portfolio by net lettable area comprises tenants from the growing TAMI, medical and healthcare sectors.  
The Reit has observed that the correlation between increasing Covid-19 cases and falling demand for office space has started to diminish.  
KORE quoted the CoStar Office National Report December 2021, where close to 100 million sq ft of office space was leased in Q3 2021, an indicator of stabilisation in the US office market.   REIT Watch is a weekly column on The Business Times, read the original version.



REIT Watch - US office S-Reits set for continued growth with the return to office

<ul>
<li>Tsingshan metals has reached an agreement with bankers on nickel trade</li>
<li>There is risk of significant impairments at STAN and other counter-party banks</li>
<li>This comes at a time when STAN's impairment costs are starting off at a low level</li>
</ul>


Tsingshan metals has reached an agreement with bankers on nickel trade
There is risk of significant impairments at STAN and other counter-party banks
This comes at a time when STAN's impairment costs are starting off at a low level


Silver Point

Thomas J. Monaco

Silver Point is a boutique research firm that focuses on the broader financial services sector, with a particular focus on troubled institutions globally. 

Asia Ex Japan

SBI (State Bank of India) / Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>SBI results were highly managed in FY 2Q22, and going forward it’s difficult for anyone to take both these results and this bank very seriously; </li>
<li>SBI reported FY 3Q22 results of INR 84.3 bn, improving INR 8.1 bn (10.6%) linked quarter. Volatility between loss provisions and operating expenses continued; and </li>
<li>Net new NPLs accelerated 18.5% annualized, and SBI’s reserves are short INR 568 tn – over five quarters of pre-tax results. </li>
</ul>


SBI results were highly managed in FY 2Q22, and going forward it’s difficult for anyone to take both these results and this bank very seriously; 
SBI reported FY 3Q22 results of INR 84.3 bn, improving INR 8.1 bn (10.6%) linked quarter. Volatility between loss provisions and operating expenses continued; and 
Net new NPLs accelerated 18.5% annualized, and SBI’s reserves are short INR 568 tn – over five quarters of pre-tax results. 


State Bank of India – Rules Don’t Apply

<ul>
<li>Weaker Result Across Almost All Geographic Segments - Led By Negative Jaws;    </li>
<li>Credit Modestly Weaker, Although Reserve Coverage Remains Strong. Watch For Credit Turn; and </li>
<li>Progress On Asian Consumer Exits, But Sea Change In View On Mexico.   </li>
</ul>


Weaker Result Across Almost All Geographic Segments - Led By Negative Jaws;    
Credit Modestly Weaker, Although Reserve Coverage Remains Strong. Watch For Credit Turn; and 
Progress On Asian Consumer Exits, But Sea Change In View On Mexico.   


Citigroup – Many Moving Parts and Confused Mexican Exit

United States

JPMorgan Chase & Co. provides global financial services and retail banking. The Company provides services such as investment banking, treasury and securities services, asset management, private banking, card member services, commercial banking, and home finance. JP Morgan Chase serves business enterprises, institutions, and individuals.

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JPMorgan Chase & Co (JPM US)

Singapore Banks - Limited Geopolitical Risk

There appears to be less geopolitical risk with Singapore's banks than some other large global banks. Singapore's banks can better benefit from...

Daniel Tabbush

REIT Watch - US office S-Reits set for continued growth with the return to office

With up to 75 per cent of employees now able to return to the workplace in Singapore, there has been a noticeable increase in...

Singapore Exchange Ltd (SGX)

Standard Chartered - Nickel and Dimes

The surge in nickel prices and the wrong-way trade(s) will mean bank counter-party risk, with STAN being highlighted in reports. ROA risk can be...

Daniel Tabbush

State Bank of India – Rules Don’t Apply

SBI: It’s difficult for anyone to take this bank very seriously. SBI reported a QOQ FY 3Q22 results increase of 10.6%, as volatility between loss...

Thomas J. Monaco

Citigroup – Many Moving Parts and Confused Mexican Exit

CITI: Weaker results across almost all geographic segments. Credit is modesty weaker but coverage is strong. Progress on Asian consumer exits, but...

Thomas J. Monaco

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